exact

verb

ex·act | \ ig-ˈzakt

exacted; exacting; exacts

Definition of exact

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to call for forcibly or urgently and obtain from them has been exacted the ultimate sacrifice— D. D. Eisenhower

2 : to call for as necessary or desirable

exact

adjective

Definition of exact (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : exhibiting or marked by strict, particular, and complete accordance with fact or a standard

2 : marked by thorough consideration or minute measurement of small factual details

Other Words from exact Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Do you exact or extract revenge? Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about exact

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Other Words from exact

Verb

exactable \ ig-ˈzak-tə-bəl

\ adjective

exactor or less commonly exacter \ ig-ˈzak-tər

\ noun

Adjective

exactness \ ig-ˈzak(t)-nəs

\ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for exact

Verb

demand, claim, require, exact mean to ask or call for something as due or as necessary. demand implies peremptoriness and insistence and often the right to make requests that are to be regarded as commands. demanded payment of the debt claim implies a demand for the delivery or concession of something due as one's own or one's right. claimed the right to manage his own affairs require suggests the imperativeness that arises from inner necessity, compulsion of law or regulation, or the exigencies of the situation. the patient requires constant attention exact implies not only demanding but getting what one demands. exacts absolute loyalty

Adjective

correct, accurate, exact, precise, nice, right mean conforming to fact, standard, or truth. correct usually implies freedom from fault or error. correct answers socially correct dress accurate implies fidelity to fact or truth attained by exercise of care. an accurate description exact stresses a very strict agreement with fact, standard, or truth. exact measurements precise adds to exact an emphasis on sharpness of definition or delimitation. precise calibration nice stresses great precision and delicacy of adjustment or discrimination. makes nice distinctions right is close to correct but has a stronger positive emphasis on conformity to fact or truth rather than mere absence of error or fault. the right thing to do

Do you exact or extract revenge?

Verb

The verb exact (as in, "exacting revenge" or "exacting a promise") is not as commonly encountered as the adjective exact, (as in "an exact copy" or "exact measurements"). Sometimes people will mistakenly use the more common verb extract when they really want exact. Extract can refer to removing something by pulling or cutting or to getting information from someone who does not want to give it. While both words refer to getting something they are used in different ways. You extract a tooth, but you exact revenge.

Did You Know?

Verb

Exact derives from a form of the Latin verb exigere, meaning "to drive out, to demand, or to measure." (Another descendant of exigere is the word exigent, which can mean "demanding" or "requiring immediate attention.") Exigere, in turn, was formed by combining the prefix ex- with the verb agere, meaning "to drive." Agere has been a very prolific source of words for English speakers; it is the ancestor of agent, react, mitigate, and navigate, just to name a few. Incidentally, if you are looking for a synonym of the verb exact, you could try demand, call for, claim, or require.

Examples of exact in a Sentence

Verb

They would not rest until they had exacted revenge. He was able to exact a promise from them.

Adjective

Those were his exact words. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. We don't know the exact nature of the problem. Predicting the path of hurricanes is not an exact science. The police have an exact description of the killer. Please take the most exact measurements possible. He is very exact in the way he solves a problem.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

This may seem like exacting work, exceeding the power of intuition. — WSJ, "Dissecting the College Scandal," 12 Feb. 2019 These Democratic National Committee members are moving with exacting deliberation on changes, likely to be approved Saturday, to a system that just two years ago was criticized as unfair and corrupt. — Lee Ross, Fox News, "Democrats poised to limit influence of superdelegates in presidential nominating system," 24 Aug. 2018 Indianapolis gun violence has reached into two family's lives and exacted its toll. — Arika Herron, Indianapolis Star, "'It was just us four': An Indianapolis mom prepares to bury her two teenagers," 5 Sep. 2019 That's potentially bad news for stocks, a danger signal for the U.S. economy and a sign that the trade war is already begun exacting a toll that can only be expected to grow. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, "Corporate Earnings are Flatlining—and That’s Terrible News for the Stock Market," 31 Aug. 2019 The tanker’s emissions exact an environmental toll, even if a drop never spills into the crystal clear water that’s home to wild sockeye salmon, rainbow trout and rare freshwater seals. — Los Angeles Times, "Path to paradise? Alaskan village hopes to replace fossil fuel with water power," 17 Aug. 2019 The ongoing flooding has already led to several deaths and, once the water recedes, will exact a huge toll on the economy. — Umair Irfan, Vox, "The severe floods soaking the Midwest and Southeast are not letting up," 11 June 2019 Brenton exacted his revenge in the Vikings’ two-minute offense. — Andrew Turner, Daily Pilot, "Marina football uses six defensive turnovers to upset Katella," 13 Sep. 2019 In reality, competitive gaming exacts both a physical and mental toll. — Chris Brodeur, courant.com, "UConn Gaming Club bringing esports revolution to Storrs, the Big East and beyond," 12 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Earlier that day, Dow Chemical CEO Jim Fitterling argued the exact opposite. — Ellen Mcgirt, Fortune, "At Fortune’s Global Sustainability Forum, the Planet Is the Point: raceAhead," 5 Sep. 2019 One of the most compelling is for drone delivery to exact locations. — Courtney Linder, Popular Mechanics, "These Guys Mapped Out Every 3-Meter Square on Earth with a Unique Three-Word Phrase," 4 Sep. 2019 Trying to stuff the season full of merriment can result in the exact opposite. — Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, "Beat Holiday Stress by Making No — or Few — Plans This Year," 3 Sep. 2019 Users are reminded not to focus on the exact forecast track. — Tribune News Service, oregonlive, "7-year-old boy dead, sister missing as Hurricane Dorian continues to bash Bahamas," 2 Sep. 2019 The storm is then expected to continue to move west and north toward the Florida coast, although its exact track is still uncertain. — David Malakoff, Science | AAAS, "As Hurricane Dorian bears down, researchers get ready," 31 Aug. 2019 This is the basis of moral relativism, which is the exact opposite of Christianity. — Jeffrey Peters, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Peters: It is the sinner’s responsibility to turn back to God," 30 Aug. 2019 The exact opposite of what our current housing demands require. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Should Mayor Faulconer veto new low-income housing rules?," 9 Aug. 2019 South Houston is predicted to finish fifth again, followed by Humble, Memorial, Pasadena and Sam Rayburn, the exact same order as last year. — Robert Avery, Houston Chronicle, "Magazine belie ves little will change in 22-6A football battles," 22 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'exact.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for exact

Verb

Middle English exacten "to require as payment," borrowed from Latin exāctus, past participle of exigere "to drive out, achieve, enforce payment of or the performance of (a task), require, inquire into, examine" from ex- ex- entry 1 + agere "to drive (cattle), be in motion, do, perform" — more at agent

Adjective

borrowed from Latin exāctus, from past participle of exigere "to drive out, achieve, require, inquire into, examine, measure" — more at exact entry 1

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